Purposefest 2026: Bringing people together through thoughtful event delivery
Since 2023, Purposefest has been the place for B Corps, and organisations on their B Corp journey, to come together in Bristol to recharge, connect, imagine better futures, spark meaningful conversations, and celebrate the purposeful work shaping positive social impact. Hosted at the Bristol Beacon, the 2026 event welcomed 300+ attendees, marking one of its most ambitious editions yet.
Key challenges
The Purposefest planning team approached us with a clear request: to provide end‑to‑end project management support to ensure the successful delivery of the biggest purposeful business event in the South West.
With a wide range of contributors, from keynote speakers to technicians, marketing teams and venue staff, the challenge was to keep planning coordinated and on track within a tight event timeline.
Our role was to bring structure, organisation and leadership to an event shaped by collaboration across multiple stakeholders.
The work
From the outset, we fully integrated with the Purposefest planning committee, acting as an extension of their team. We coordinated all stakeholders to ensure plans stayed aligned and progressed smoothly.
Our project management included chairing planning meetings, maintaining timelines, tracking actions and ensuring deadlines across marketing, operations and programme delivery were met.
On the event day, we provided hands‑on support, welcoming attendees, assisting speakers and performers, and helping the programme run seamlessly from start to finish.
This combination of structured planning and on‑the‑day support ensured Purposefest 2026 delivered an inspiring day of ideas, best practice and meaningful knowledge exchange.
The impact
Through clear project management and collaborative leadership, we helped the Purposefest team deliver one of their most organised and impactful events to date.
Key outcomes included:
Strong cross‑team coordination, enabling marketing, technical, programme and venue teams to work cohesively
A consistently run project schedule, with key deliverables met ahead of time
A high‑quality attendee experience, supported by an on‑site volunteer team focused on hospitality, flow and accessibility
A confident planning team, freed from daily coordination pressures and able to focus on programme delivery and meaningful engagement with attendees
Testimonial
“As a B Corp Coach and a Cochair of the Bristol & Bath B Local, life is usually pretty full on so I was absolutely delighted that the PurpleFish team were able to help project manage this years event. It took a big load from me and enabled me to focus time and effort elsewhere.
“Jonathan and the team really knew what they were doing and had the systems and experience to make a really positive difference to the whole event.”
Andy Hawkins, C-3PO (Chief People, Planet, and Purpose Officer), Business On Purpose